Kearney, Neb. - Senior third baseman Luke Valerius drove in three runs and three pitchers combined to throw a nine-hitter to help the Nebraska-Kearney baseball team beat Nebraska-Omaha, 8-5, Wednesday night at Werner Park in Papillion. 

The contest, held at the new home of the Triple A Omaha Storm Chasers, was delayed about 45 minutes due to a rain delay in the first inning.

Also, a crowd of 2,033 watched the last game -- in any sport -- between the Lopers and Mavericks as Division II members. UNO is moving into Division I next academic year. Go HERE to see a photo gallery from the Omaha World Herald.

Junior lefty Mike Loseke (Arvada, Colo.) improved to 6-0 by allowing four earned runs over five innings. Senior Roy Metter (Phoenix, Ariz.), in a rare relief appearance, needed less than 30 pitches to get through three innings with senior closer Jake Kresse (Bennington H.S.) working a scoreless ninth to pick up his fifth save.

UNK (27-12), ranked fifth in the Central Region, jumped on the Mavs by scoring four times in the top of the second. Each run was unearned as the Lopers took advantage of two UNO errors with Valerius (Golden, Colo.) hitting a sac fly to bring home the third run.

UNO (27-15), eighth in the South Central Region, responded by scoring four times in its half of the second. A two-run triple from right fielder Mark Waldron was the big blow with the sun helping out too. 

With one out and a runner on first, first baseman Tyler Davies singled to right. Senior right fielder Patrick Oliver (Broomfield, Colo.) threw to third and then Valerius (2 for 3) threw to second to try and get Davies. He likely would've been out but the sun was in the right spot and thus the ball went into center, allowing UNO's first run to score.

The Lopers bounced back as Loseke shut out UNO the next two innings. Junior LF Daren Grace (2 for 3, two runs) singled to left in the fourth and eventually gave UNK the lead for good when he scored on a wild pitch.

Kearney was poised to blow the game open in the fifth as they had the bases full, one out and one run already in. On a 3-2 pitch, Grace hit a bouncing ball up the middle that looked like a two-run single. However, freshman 2b Caleb Palensky dove for the ball to start a 4-6-3 double play.

Three innings later, UNO couldn't stop Valerius as he hit a one out, two-run single to left to score the final runs of the game. At the plate, the Mavs went quietly after scoring a run in the fifth as Metter had four strikeouts and Kresse fanned two.

Besides Valerius and Grace, three other Lopers had two hits, including UNO transfer Tim Urban (Vadnais Heights, Minn.).

New Mexico Highlands comes to town for four RMAC games this weekend. First pitch is Friday at 6:00 p.m.